Judge Bars Giuliani's Friend From Gracie Mansion

By ELISABETH BUMILLER

Published: May 21, 2001

In a sharply worded ruling that said the interests of Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani's children are more important than his romantic life, Acting Justice Judith J. Gische of State Supreme Court today barred Judith Nathan, the mayor's friend, from Gracie Mansion.

In a separate ruling, Judge Gische also denied the mayor's request for an order of silence over the case, and in unusually strong language she criticized the mayor for emotionally harming his children, Andrew, 15, and Caroline, 11.

Specifically, the judge reprimanded the mayor and his divorce lawyer, Raoul L. Felder, for three days of verbal attacks on Donna Hanover, the mayor's estranged wife, over Mother's Day weekend. Mr. Felder, who called Ms. Hanover "an uncaring mother" who was "howling like a stuck pig," made the attacks with the mayor's support after Judge Gische sided with Ms. Hanover and lifted an order of silence she had briefly imposed on the case.

"Although the court has no legal authority to restrain either party from speaking to the media, this does not preclude either of them from using good sense and personal restraint for their sake," Judge Gishe wrote in the ruling issued today. "The children are of an age and maturity that they have ready access to the media. The barrage of negative comments that ensued after the court lifted the temporary `gag' order were embarrassing and no doubt painful for these children. Certainly, neither of these parties needs a court restraint, or even an agreement between them, to make a personal decision not to disseminate information (either in person or through agents) that tends to portray the other in a derogatory manner that is hurtful to their children."

Helene Brezinsky, Ms. Hanover's divorce lawyer, who has until now not spoken publicly, said today that "Donna is grateful for the court's decision to put the children's well-being first."

Mr. Giuliani, who was surrounded by reporters at City Hall shortly after the ruling, said he had no comment. "Oh, now, now, come on," he said before entering the Public Hearing Chamber, where he vetoed a bill legalizing the ownership of ferrets.

It was unclear whether Mr. Giuliani would appeal the rulings in what has become the most public spectacle of domestic discord in the history of the New York City mayorality. Mr. Felder did not return calls today seeking comment.

The two rulings, totaling 14 pages, were not only a resounding defeat for the mayor but an intimate look at a household in crisis, overseen by a judge forced to advise warring parents on deeply personal family concerns. In a discussion that took up nearly two pages, Judge Gische weighed the request of Ms. Hanover that her children have no contact with Ms. Nathan — referred to in the ruling as "JN" — against the request of the mayor that his children meet a woman whom he has said he hopes will remain in his life forever.

"It is inevitable that the children will meet JN," Judge Gische wrote. "The more difficult problem is when and under what circumstances."